After Concubine Shen was dragged away, she spoke up to console the young emperor.
"It's okay. Your mother will surely find the best doctor in the world to treat you."
The young emperor saw how scared she was yet still trying to comfort him. He couldn't help but find it a bit amusing.
"Mother, don't worry. I haven't felt any discomfort recently. Even if I'm really poisoned, I won't die just yet."
He was just a small child, yet so calm in the face of death. Shi Muyuan couldn't help but feel a bit ashamed. How could she be even less composed than a child?
She bit her lip and stroked the young emperor's head.
"I'll cook some delicious food for you myself. Come on, let's go back to the palace."
"Okay."
The two of them walked hand in hand on the way back to the palace, both wearing happy smiles on their faces.
If she weren't from a different era, she would surely have a great mother - son relationship with the young emperor.
Shi Muyuan kept sighing in her heart. Before she knew it, they had arrived at the Shoukang Palace.
Looking at the young emperor beside her, she suddenly had an idea. Maybe it would be good to just live in the moment and not think about the future.
Anyway, she would surely find a way to solve the problem of the poison.
...
Maybe Shi Muyuan's thoughts and tone had touched the heavens, because not long after, news came from the Shi family.
The only person in the world who could help the young emperor detoxify had been spotted near the capital city recently.
After receiving the news, she rushed out of the palace in a hurry. But when she got there, she met someone unexpected.
"What is the national teacher doing here?"
"And what is the empress dowager doing here?"
The two looked at each other. They both knew this wasn't the place to talk, so they went straight to a private room in an inn.
"Now, the empress dowager can tell me what she's doing here, right?"
Shi Muyuan rolled her eyes. Didn't this man understand the rule of first - come - first - served?
"Shouldn't it be you who tells me first? Don't forget, no matter who you are, as the national teacher, you still need to respect me, the empress dowager."
She finally realized that it was a waste not to use her status. This way, she wouldn't be so easily angered by this man without knowing how to retort.
The man was a bit speechless after hearing her words, but he didn't refute her.
"I heard that a divine doctor has been spotted near the capital city. And the only person who can save the emperor in this world is this divine doctor, so I came out to try my luck."
"It seems our purposes are the same. I also heard this news and came out specifically to check."
After some discussion, they decided to go and take a look together.
But when they got to the inn where the divine doctor had been spotted, they found nothing.
Cui Qizhou casually called over a waiter.
"I heard that a divine doctor named San Qi stayed in your inn a few days ago. Is that true?"
Hearing this, the waiter looked proud.
"Sir, you've asked the right person. I was in charge of that divine doctor's accommodation. I'm probably the one who knows him best in the whole inn."
Not wanting to listen to his nonsense anymore, Cui Qizhou casually threw some silver at him.
"Tell us about that divine doctor."
A greedy look flashed in the waiter's eyes. "Sure thing."
The two got the information they wanted and left the inn.
"The waiter said that the divine doctor doesn't plan to leave the capital city recently. He seems to be up to something, but what could it be?"
Shi Muyuan just couldn't figure it out. Cui Qizhou remained silent, seemingly lost in thought.
Just as he was about to turn around and speak, a messenger from the Shi family arrived.
"Empress dowager, our master has found out that there's a doctor giving free medical consultations outside the capital city recently. The time this doctor appeared is about the same as that of the divine doctor San Qi. Our master wants you to go and check it out."
This was great news. An eager look appeared on Shi Muyuan's face. "What are we waiting for? Whether it's true or not, let's go and take a look first. If it really is the divine doctor, we must invite him over."
"Yes, I'll prepare the carriage right away."
The two took the carriage and soon arrived outside the city.
They didn't even need to look for him because the villagers around them had already told them where the doctor was.
When they got there, the doctor was just about to pack up.
Shi Muyuan stared blankly at the old man who was packing up. He wasn't very tall. His silver hair couldn't hide his vitality. As he packed, he sipped his wine, looking like a celestial being.
Cui Qizhou strode forward and blocked the old man's way. He chose to ask directly.
"May I ask if you're the divine doctor San Qi?"
San Qi's hand paused for a moment and then he regained his composure.
"What San Qi? I've never heard of him. Are you looking for the wrong person? Don't bother me. I still need to go back and drink."
After saying that, he tried to slip away from the side. But since the man had already guessed, how could the truth be easily evaded?
"We have something important to discuss with the divine doctor. May we have a private talk?"
Seeing that he wouldn't let him go, San Qi rolled his eyes directly.
"Do you want to force me? Let me tell you, people come to me every day saying they have important matters. Which of life, death, illness and old age isn't important? But my free medical consultation is over today, so please leave."
The way he blew his beard and glared was really funny. Shi Muyuan beside him couldn't help but shake with suppressed laughter.
Seeing this, San Qi got even angrier.
"Leave quickly. I'm leaving."
Shi Muyuan knew she might have angered the old man, so she stepped forward to apologize.
"Uncle, we really have a matter of life and death. Please come with us."
Seeing how earnest they were, San Qi finally softened his heart and went to the inn with them.
"Speak up. What's so important? If you don't give me a good reason, do you believe I can make you come in upright and leave on a stretcher?"
This old man was really too funny. Shi Muyuan just couldn't hold it in anymore.
"Hahaha, I've never heard of a divine doctor who would kill people. How about you show us?"
San Qi was almost driven mad by this girl. He gritted his teeth. "Are you going to speak or not? If not, I'll leave. I've never seen people like you who come to seek medical help but still laugh at me."
Cui Qizhou was also a bit helpless with the empress dowager. He quickly stepped forward to smooth things over.
"Divine doctor, don't be angry. We really have something important to discuss with you. Please take a look at this."
Saying that, the man took out a token from his body.
The dragon on the token looked so lifelike that anyone who wasn't stupid could tell what kind of status it represented.